The Palace of Shadows: Gaslighting and the Royal Family's Culture of Secrecy The latest exchange between King Charles and Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, has shed light on a disturbing pattern within the British royal family.
Buckingham Palace's forceful response to Spencer's claims about the monarch's conduct has sparked accusations of gaslighting – a form of manipulation where the manipulator attempts to distort reality, memory, or perception.
Gaslighting is not new in politics and power dynamics, but its use by an institution as revered as the British monarchy raises questions about the culture of secrecy that pervades the palace.